From our front door at 2nd Avenue, five recurring markets sit within a 20 minute drive of Burleigh Heads. This circuit covers two Saturday farmers markets, a weekend trash-and-treasure market open both Saturday and Sunday, and two evening markets, all currently trading, with verified days and hours set out below.
Is Burleigh Farmers Market the closest one to us?
Yes, and it is the natural first stop. Burleigh Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 7am to noon, rain, hail or shine, in the grounds of Burleigh Heads State School on the corner of the Lower Gold Coast Highway and West Burleigh Road. From our door it is about a 7 minute drive south along the highway, then inland at West Burleigh Road. You will find fresh farm produce, organic fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, deli lines, coffee and flowers, plus arts, crafts and antiques with live local music. Entry and parking on the school oval are free. Regulars tell us the produce moves fast, so arriving before 9am gives you the best pick and an easy park.
What makes Palm Beach Farmers’ Market worth the drive?
Palm Beach Farmers’ Market is the bigger produce haul, one of the longest-running farmers markets on the coast and going since 2000. It runs every Saturday from 6am to 11.30am, rain, hail or shine, in the grounds of Currumbin State High School on Thrower Drive, roughly a 13 minute drive south from us down the Gold Coast Highway. More than 75 stallholders bring fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy and baked goods, with plenty of organic, vegan and gluten-free options mixed through. Guests keep mentioning how early the good stalls sell out, so treat this as an early start. Note that dogs are not permitted in the shopping area, and street parking near the school fills quickly after 8am.
Miami Marketta: is it worth going after dark?
For an evening out, yes. Miami Marketta is the original Gold Coast street food night market, trading Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm at 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami, about a 9 minute drive north from our door, one street back from the beach. The undercover laneway means it runs rain, hail or shine, with roughly 15 global food vendors, boutique bars and free live music on the Cargo Stage each night. Friday and Saturday bring the fullest line-up. On-street parking nearby is limited, so allow a few minutes to find a spot, or plan around the new light rail Miami stop due mid-2026. No booking is needed for small groups.
Is Carrara Markets the one that runs all weekend?
Yes, and it is the circuit’s all-rounder. Carrara Markets open every Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 3pm on the corner of Gooding Drive and Manchester Road at Carrara, about a 16 minute drive inland from us via the highway and Nerang-Broadbeach Road. This is the Gold Coast’s big trash-and-treasure market, with hundreds of stalls covering fresh produce, plants, clothing and homewares, a Sunday morning car boot sale, and a full food court. Entry and parking are free. Much of the market sits under permanent cover, so wet weather is rarely a problem. Guests keep mentioning the fresh fruit and vegetable prices, so bring a bag and some cash for the produce sheds.
Are the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets open at night?
Yes, and they round out the circuit with a second evening option. Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 9pm along The Foreshore beside the Esplanade, about a 20 minute drive north. Running since 1995, more than 100 stalls line the coastal stretch with artisan and iconic Australian goods, seasonal produce, gourmet provisions, handmade wares and live entertainers setting the pace. Entry is free, street parking is ample, and leashed pets are welcome. The market trades in most weather, though the operators ask you to check their socials for any changes to trading before you head down for the evening.
Market FAQs
What days are the Burleigh Heads markets on?
The two closest farmers markets both run Saturday mornings: Burleigh Farmers Market 7am to noon, and Palm Beach Farmers’ Market 6am to 11.30am. Carrara Markets open Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm, while Miami Marketta and Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets both trade on evenings through the week.
Which Gold Coast market is closest to 2nd Avenue?
Burleigh Farmers Market is the closest, about a 7 minute drive from our front door to the Burleigh Heads State School grounds on the Gold Coast Highway. Miami Marketta is next at roughly 9 minutes north. Everything on this circuit sits within a 20 minute drive.
Are the Gold Coast markets free to visit?
Yes. All five markets on this circuit are free to enter, and most offer free or ample parking. You only pay for what you buy from the stalls. Bring cash as well as a card, since some produce and food stalls still prefer notes and coins.
Do the weekend markets run in the rain?
Most do. Burleigh Farmers Market and Palm Beach Farmers’ Market both trade rain, hail or shine, Miami Marketta is fully undercover, and much of Carrara Markets sits under permanent cover. Surfers Paradise runs in most weather but asks you to check their socials first.
Can you walk to the markets from Burleigh Heads?
The beach is a 2 minute walk from our door, but the markets are a short drive rather than a stroll. Burleigh Farmers Market sits inland at West Burleigh, and the others run north and south along the Gold Coast Highway. A car or a rideshare makes the circuit easy.
Line up a Saturday morning at Burleigh or Palm Beach, a Sunday wander through Carrara, and an evening at Miami Marketta, and you have a full weekend of markets without straying far from home. Base yourself at 2nd Avenue Beachside Apartments so the beach is out front and every market on this circuit is a short drive away, then see what else is close on our Burleigh Heads attractions guide.
Image credit: Destination Gold Coast
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